Fitting Up the Interior

One bay is outfitted with a sliding table, and has become the computer bay. A power bar sits on the floor of this bay, and a heavy-duty 12V supply to drive the Gemini system. The second bay is left empty for large bulky things (cases, flat-frame light box, etc), and the third contains drawers.

Keeping the multitude of cables neat is important, both to avoid tripping and tangling, and to keep constant (and minimal) cable-weight pressure on the mount, for tracking accuracy.

• All the devices with wires on the scope (cameras, guider, focuser, filter wheel, etc.) are cabled along the scope and mount body to minimize dangling.
• The platform between the plates on the SkyShed Pier top section makes a great place to put permanent connection points, so in there I put a USB hub (which means I only have to one run USB cable to the computer), the focuser hub, the USB-to-serial convertors, etc. Each is fastened in place with velcro.
• This left only 6 cables that need to go from the mount to the electronics bay — several power cables and the single USB. These all run down the side of the pier, held in place with peel-n-stick cable guides, then through “wiring channels” fastened to the floor.

It required lots of hand rotation of the mount on both axes to work out the right amount of slack in the cables so the mount can go through its range of motion without snagging. I’m very pleased with the results — the interior seems much tidier and more spacious without all the dangerous dangly bits.

A standard 5-drawer mechanic’s tool chest fits perfectly in a POD bay. With each drawer lined with a thin foam drawer liner, this gives ample storage for tools and little optical bits. I had to put a sheet of plywood on the floor under the chest, because the ribbing moulded into the bay floor was causing the chest to tip off-level. I chose a 5-drawer unit instead of a 7-drawer — which would also just fit — so there would be clearance to put things on top, and this serves as the place to temporarily place things when actively using the equipment.